What is DC01EK Enameling Steel?
If you are looking for steel for vitreous enamel applications, DC01EK is a grade you should consider.
DC01EK is a cold-rolled low carbon steel designed specifically for enamel coating, where a glass-like layer is fired onto the surface at high temperature. Compared with standard DC01, it offers better control of surface quality and composition, helping you achieve a more stable enamel finish.
When you use DC01EK, you reduce common issues like poor adhesion, blistering, or surface defects. Its clean surface and good formability also make it easier for you to stamp and process into different shapes.
In practice, it is widely used in enamel cookware, water heaters, oven panels, and architectural enamel products. If you need both durability and a smooth enamel surface, DC01EK gives you a reliable base to work with.
According to GB/T 13790—2025 Cold rolled low carbon steel sheet and strip for vitreous enamelling Supersedes GB/T 13790—2008 / GB/T 29515—2013
Technical Data Sheet — Grade DC01EK (Traditional Enameling Process)
📌 Designation System Clause 4.2
DC01EK consists of four parts:
- D — Steel flat product for cold forming
- C — Cold rolled condition
- 01 — Stamping level: General purpose (Level 01)
- EK — Enamelling type: Suitable for traditional enameling process
📖 Note: "ED" suffix indicates direct-on enameling process (also suitable for traditional), while DC01EK uses "EK" for traditional enameling.
📊 DC01 vs DC01EK – Why Choose Enameling Steel?
1️⃣ Intended Use
DC01:
General cold forming
structural parts
General cold forming
structural parts
DC01EK:
Vitreous enamel applications
enamel cookware, water heaters
Vitreous enamel applications
enamel cookware, water heaters
2️⃣ Surface Quality Requirement
DC01:
Standard commercial quality
Standard commercial quality
DC01EK:
Stricter, defect-sensitive
FB/FC/FD surface grades
Stricter, defect-sensitive
FB/FC/FD surface grades
3️⃣ Enamel Suitability
DC01:
Not guaranteed
may cause adhesion issues
Not guaranteed
may cause adhesion issues
DC01EK:
Optimized for enamel firing
excellent adhesion, fewer rejects
Optimized for enamel firing
excellent adhesion, fewer rejects
4️⃣ Defect Resistance (Fish Scaling)
DC01:
Higher fish-scale risk
Higher fish-scale risk
DC01EK:
Lower fish-scale risk
TH ≥ 6.7 min/mm² validated
Lower fish-scale risk
TH ≥ 6.7 min/mm² validated
💡 Key takeaway: If your application involves vitreous enameling, DC01EK delivers controlled surface quality, guaranteed fish scale resistance, and consistent enamel adhesion that standard DC01 cannot assure.
🏺 Enameling Performance
🎯 Designed for
- Single and double enameling
- Good hydrogen permeability
- Reduced risk of fish-scale defects
✨ Key Characteristics
- Excellent enameling adhesion
- Resistant to fish-scale defects
- Suitable for deep drawing
- Low carbon content for surface quality
⚙️ What makes DC01EK a reliable enameling steel? Its low carbon chemistry delivers consistent surface quality. The hydrogen permeation test validates fish scale resistance, so you get fewer rejects after firing. And with deep drawing capability, it handles complex part shapes without cracking.
⚙️ Chemical Composition Clause 7.1 – Table 5 (Ladle analysis)
| Grade | C (%) | Mn (%) | P (%) | S (%) | Als (%) | Ti (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC01EK | ≤0.07 | ≤0.60 | ≤0.045 | ≤0.045 | ≥0.010 | — |
🔬 Permissible deviations for product analysis according to GB/T 222 (Clause 7.1.2).
📊 Mechanical Properties Clause 7.2 – Table 6
✅ Guarantee period: 6 months from manufacture date (7.2.1).
⚠️ Aging effect: yield & tensile strength may increase over time, elongation decreases – recommend early use (7.2.2).
⚠️ Aging effect: yield & tensile strength may increase over time, elongation decreases – recommend early use (7.2.2).
| Grade | ReL (MPa) ≤0.50mm |
ReL (MPa) >0.50~0.70 |
ReL (MPa) >0.70mm |
Rm (MPa) | A80mm (%) ≤0.50mm |
A80mm (%) >0.50~0.70 |
A80mm (%) >0.70mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC01EK | ≤310 | ≤290 | ≤270 | 270–390 | ≥26 | ≥28 | ≥30 |
📐 When yield phenomenon not obvious, use Rp0.2. 🔧 Lower yield strength limit of 140 MPa negotiable. 🧪 P6 transverse specimen.
📏 Stretcher Strain Clause 7.3 – Table 7
| Grade | Stretcher strain requirements |
|---|---|
| DC01EK (and DC03EK, DC04EK, DC05EK, DC03ED, DC04ED) | ✔️ For surface quality levels FC and FD, under room temperature storage, no stretcher strains within 6 months from manufacture date. |
| DC06EK, DC07EK, DC06ED | No stretcher strains shall appear under room temperature storage. |
📋 Enamelability Requirements Clauses 7.1.2 – 7.4.3
- 7.1.2 – Permissible deviations for product chemical analysis shall comply with GB/T 222.
- 7.2.1 – Mechanical properties guaranteed for 6 months from manufacture date as per Table 6.
- 7.2.2 – Due to aging effects, properties may change over time; early use is recommended.
- 7.3.1 – Skin-passing is applied, but stretcher strain tendency may reappear; recommend prompt use.
- 7.3.2 / Table 7 – For surface quality FC/FD, no stretcher strains within 6 months under room temperature storage.
- 7.4.1 – Hydrogen permeation test may be carried out upon agreement to evaluate fish-scale resistance.
- 7.4.2 – Adhesion test may be performed upon agreement; pretreatment and enameling conditions shall be stated in contract.
- 7.4.3 – Enamelability evaluation tests are recommended for first-time use or when enamel frit/process changes.
🔬 7.4.1 Anti-fishscale (Hydrogen permeation test)
Upon agreement, hydrogen permeation test (Annex B) may be carried out. Acceptance criteria by agreement.
📍 TH = tb/d² ; Electrolyte A: TH ≥ 6.7 min/mm². Electrolyte B: TH ≥ 6.7 min/mm² (negotiable for B/Ti steels).
🧪 7.4.2 Enamel adhesion test
Upon agreement, adhesion test may be performed. Pretreatment and enameling conditions shall be stated in contract.
🔄 7.4.3 Enamelability evaluation test
When using material first time or enamel frit/process changes, evaluation tests are recommended.
📋 Additional Technical Requirements
Surface quality (Table 8)
FB/FC/FD available. For FC/FD: stretcher strain free 6 months. No cracks, blisters, folds.
FB/FC/FD available. For FC/FD: stretcher strain free 6 months. No cracks, blisters, folds.
Oiling & rust (7.7)
Usually oiled, 6-month rust protection. Non-oiled: supplier not liable for rust/scratches.
Usually oiled, 6-month rust protection. Non-oiled: supplier not liable for rust/scratches.
📌 Surface texture: Dull Ra 0.6–1.9μm; Rough Ra >1.6μm (7.6). Dimensions per GB/T 708 (7.8).
🏭 Manufacturing & Inspection
6.2 Annealed + skin-passed | 9.2 Batch ≤30t | 8.2 Tensile 1/batch | 10 Inspection doc type 3.1
📖 International grade comparison (Annex A)
GB/T 13790—2025: DC01EK ≈ EN 10209:2023 DC01EK, ISO 5001:2012 VE01 Type 1/VE02 Type 1.
GB/T 13790—2025: DC01EK ≈ EN 10209:2023 DC01EK, ISO 5001:2012 VE01 Type 1/VE02 Type 1.
🧪 Hydrogen Permeation Test Annex B
Thickness 0.50–3.00mm. TH = tb/d² ≥ 6.7 min/mm² (Electrolyte A). For B/Ti steels, results negotiable.
✅ Why specifiers choose DC01EK enameling steel
- Low carbon (≤0.07%) – cleaner surface, fewer enamel defects
- Fish scale resistance – validated by hydrogen permeation test (TH ≥ 6.7)
- Deep drawing performance – low yield strength, high elongation for complex shapes
- 6-month mechanical property guarantee from manufacture date
- No stretcher strains for FC/FD surface quality within 6 months
- Hydrogen permeation / adhesion tests available upon agreement
- Oiled option: 6-month rust protection
Based on GB/T 13790—2025. Actual delivery subject to contract.